Enhancement of detection sensitivity for indirect photometric detection of anions and cations in capillary electrophoresis

This review focuses on the indirect photometric detection of anions and cations by capillary electrophoresis. Special emphasis has been placed on the sensitivity of the technique and approaches taken to enhance detection limits. Theoretical considerations and requirements have been discussed, including buffering, detection sensitivity, separation of cations, and detector linearity. A series of tables detailing highly absorbing probes and the conditions of their use for indirect photometric detection are included.     

Methane sensor based on palladium/MWNT nanocomposites

Methane gas sensor was fabricated based on electrocatalytic properties of the Pd/MWNT nanocomposites on indium tin oxide (ITO)glass substrates.A linear response for methane was obtained in the range of 0-16%(v/v)with a detection limit of 0.167%(v/ v)and R.S.D.of 4.1%.After 100 times sensing or stable stored more than 12 months in atmosphere,unconspicuous measurable decrease was observed.The response time was less than 60s at room temperature and ambient pressure.Some common potential interferents in samp...     

Citrinal A,a novel tricyclic derivative of citrinin,from an algicolous fungus Penicillium sp.i-1-1

Citrinal A(1),a novel tricyclic compound with a rare tetrahydro-2H-benzofuro[7-b][1,4]dioxin-9(3H)-one skeleton,along with two known related compounds,citrinin(2) and 2,3,4-trimethyl-5,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran(3) were isolated from an algicolous fungus Penicillium sp.i-1-1.The structure and stereochemistry of 1 were determined by comprehensive spectral and biogenic analysis.Its cytotoxic effects on the A-549 and HL-60 cell lines were evaluated.     

Point-to-point trajectory planning of wheeled mobile manipulators with stability constraint. Extension of the random-profile approach

We propose a flexible stochastic scheme for point-to-point trajectory planning of nonholonomic wheeled mobile manipulators subjected to move in a structured workspace. The problem is known to be complex, particularly if obstacles are present and if dynamic stability constraint is considered. The proposed method consists of extending to wheeled mobile manipulators the random-profile approach recently applied to wheeled platforms. This versatile method handles constraints on: (i) geometry (obstacle avoidance, bounded joint positions and path curvature); (ii) kinematics (bounded velocities and accelerations); (iii) dynamics (bounded torques, stability condition). It may be applied using various forms of cost functions involving travel time, efforts and power. Solutions are presented for planar and spatial nonholonomic wheeled mobile manipulators undertaking, in a constrained workspace, a point-to-point task defined either in generalized or operational coordinates.     

Palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of heteroaryl halides using di-tert-butylphosphinoferrocene

Pd-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of heteroaryl halides, using monodentate ligand di-tert-butylphosphinoferrocene tetrafluoroborate is reported. Good to high yields were obtained with chiral amines on a variety of substrates including 2-bromo heteroaryls.     

Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. at the Forefront of Pharma to Confront Zika Virus and Microbial Infections—An In Vitro and In Silico Perspective

The recent emergence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil and the increasing resistance developed by pathogenic bacteria to nearly all existing antibiotics should be taken as a wakeup call for the international authority as this represents a risk for global public health. The lack of antiviral drugs and effective antibiotics on the market triggers the need to search for safe therapeutics from medicinal plants to fight viral and microbial infections. In the present study, we investigated whether a mangrove plant, Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. (B. gymnorhiza) collected in Mauritius, possesses antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating abilities and exerts anti-ZIKV activity at non-cytotoxic doses. Microorganisms Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 70603, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 (MRSA), Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 25933, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Candida albicans ATCC 26555 were used to evaluate the antimicrobial properties. Ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin antibiotics were used for assessing antibiotic potentiating activity. ZIKV^MC-MR766NIID (ZIKV^GFP) was used for assessing anti-ZIKV activity. In silico docking (Autodock 4) and ADME (SwissADME) analyses were performed on collected data. Antimicrobial results revealed that Bruguiera twig ethyl acetate (BTE) was the most potent extract inhibiting the growth of all nine microbes tested, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.19–0.39 mg/mL. BTE showed partial synergy effects against MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when applied in combination with streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. By using a recombinant ZIKV-expressing reporter GFP protein, we identified both Bruguiera root aqueous and Bruguiera fruit aqueous extracts as potent inhibitors of ZIKV infection in human epithelial A549 cells. The mechanisms by which such extracts prevented ZIKV infection are linked to the inability of the virus to bind to the host cell surface. In silico docking showed that ZIKV E protein, which is involved in cell receptor binding, could be a target for cryptochlorogenic acid, a chemical compound identified in B. gymnorhiza. From ADME results, cryptochlorogenic acid is predicted to be not orally bioavailable because it is too polar. Scientific data collected in this present work can open a new avenue for the development of potential inhibitors from B. gymnorhiza to fight ZIKV and microbial infections in the future.     

Effect of relevant umklapp process on the two-leg Hubbard ladder with a half-filled band under pressure

By means of perturbative renormalization approach we study the effect of relevant umklapp process on dimensional crossover caused by interladder one particle hopping in weakly coupled two-leg Hubbard ladders with a half filled-band. We found that a crossover takes place at a finite value which increases as the amplitude of umklapp process increases. For the system undergoes a phase transition to the spin density wave phase (SDW) via the two particle hopping process, while for the system undergoes a crossover to the two dimensional Fermi liquid phase via one particle hopping process. Received 25 December 1998     

C6H and C6D: electronic spectra and Renner-Teller analysis

Rotationally resolved spectra of the B(2)Π - X(2)Π 0(0)(0) electronic origin bands and 11(1)(1) μ(2)Σ-μ(2)Σ vibronic hot band transitions of both C(6)H and C(6)D have been recorded in direct absorption by cavity ring-down spectroscopy through a supersonically expanding planar plasma. For both origin and hot bands accurate spectroscopic parameters are derived from a precise rotational analysis. The origin band measurements extend earlier work and the 11(1)(1) μ(2)Σ-μ(2)Σ vibronic hot bands are discussed here for the first time. The Renner-Teller effect for the lowest bending mode ν(11) is analyzed, yielding the Renner parameters ε(11), vibrational frequencies ω(11), and the true spin-orbit coupling constants A(SO) for both (2)Π electronic states. From the Renner-Teller analysis and spectral intensity measurements as a function of plasma jet temperature, the excitation energy of the lowest-lying 11(1) μ(2)Σ vibronic state of C(6)H is determined to be (11.0 ± 0.8) cm(-1).     

Flexible NO2-Functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbene Monolayers on Au (111) Surface

The formation of flexible self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in which an external trigger modifies the geometry of surface-anchored molecules is essential for the development of functional materials with tunable properties. In this work, it is demonstrated that NO₂-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene molecules (NHCs), which were anchored on Au (111) surface, change their orientation from tilted into flat-lying position following trigger-induced reduction of their nitro groups. DFT calculations identified that the energetic driving force for reorientation was the lower steric hindrance and stronger interactions between the chemically reduced NHCs and the Au surface. The trigger-induced changes in the NHCs′ anchoring geometry and chemical functionality modified the work function and the hydrophobicity of the NHC-decorated Au surface, demonstrating the impact of a chemically tunable NHC-based SAM on the properties of the metal surface.